Product description

From the geometrical precision of the pyramids to the golden treasures found in Tutankhamun's tomb, the art of ancient Egypt has an enduring capacity to attract and intrigue. These remarkable works of art are the concrete expression of the ancient Egyptians' way of life and their attitudes to religion and the afterlife. In this clear and comprehensive introduction, Jaromir Malek deftly traces Egyptian art from its prehistoric origins, through 3, 000 years of astonishing achievements in the era of the pharaohs, to the conquest of Egypt by the Romans.

Author information

Jaromir Malek is Keeper of the Archive at the Griffith Institute, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. His books include In the Shadow of the Pyramids:Egypt During the Old Kingdom and Egypt: 4, 000 Years of Art, also published by Phaidon.

Review quote

'By placing the material firmly in its social and cultural context, Malek is able to explain many of the subleties and complexities of the relationship between life and art in the pharaonic period. No other book on Egyptian art gives quite so strong a sense of the painting and statuary as almost inevitable products of the culture of ancient Egypt.' (Ian Shaw, Department of Archaeology, Liverpool University) 'A fascinating survey of how Egypt's own history influenced its art forms and genres over three thousand years.' (Betsy Bryan, Department of Near Eastern Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore) 'Art & Ideas has broken new ground in making accessible authoritative views on periods, movements and concepts in art. As a series it represents a real advance in publishing.' (Sir Nicholas Serota, Director, Tate London) 'The format is wonderful and offers what had long been missing in academic studies: usable manuals for specific themes or periods...I am definitely not alone in welcoming Art & Ideas as a precious set of teaching tools.' (Joachim Pissarro, Yale University)